Wonder why it’s there? We did, so we asked the project’s resident engineer and learned that the rope grid was placed in the pond for no other reason except to keep the birds away (by the way, ADOT’s resident engineers oversee projects and ensure that everything is built according to the construction contract and ADOT’s requirements).

Birds are not typically a top priority on most ADOT projects, but the SR 24 site happens to be near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Since birds and airplanes really don’t mix, the goal was to NOT invite big flocks that potentially could interfere with airport operations. Birds (rather, the desire to not attract birds) also factored into the landscape design on SR 143 near the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

We told you it wasn’t earth-shattering, but it’s these types of unusual factoids that we find fascinating because they go to show just how much has to be considered on an ADOT project.